Day 37- Lenten Journey 2014

Sometimes I read the Scriptures and miss the richness that one verse can contain.Big picture reading is important, sure, but sometimes, when I slow down and focus on a verse or two, I glean new lessons, strength, and encouragement from the Scriptures. Hopefully, this will happen for you today as well.

When I read today’s Psalm, verse 4 really struck me.

Look to the Lord and His strength, seek His face always.

Eleven words – a simple command. Yet in these words and their phrasing, I felt like there was a promise of something.If I would simply do this it would deeply and profoundly impact my life.

Clear concise instructions that could, if I allowed them to, make all the difference.

Days… moment… the nitty gritty of life infused with the Lords Strength & Presence.

Look to the Lord:

Other translations use the word seek, search for, turn to,

This first part of the command tells us where to look. We are to turn only to God with our devotion.Search for Him to bring meaning, wisdom, direction, provision, help…

and His strength:

strength (oz) Hebrew word:might, strength, power, stronghold

Far too often I rely on my own strength and when it runs out or fails me, then I cry out or even complain to God, about my weakness or inabilities.Look to His strength … not mine.

Can you relate?

We foolishly believe that doing on our own is better and being in need of Good’s strength is a sign of weakness, rather than the ultimate show of strength.

When we rely on God’s strength, we demonstrate our faith.We have access to the greatest power source and yet we so often rely on our own strength which is puny in compassion.

seek His face always:

seek (darash) Hebrew word:search for, require, inquire

This implies both a need and a desire, as an essential to life.

We are called to desire God’s presence in our lives and to seek His face.Numbers 6:24-24 talks about God’s face shining on us as part of the blessing we enjoy as His child.

God’s face is turned toward you and He longs for awaits you to seek Him.

We can seek Gods’ face like a child seeks, looks for the face of his parents.

From when our son was young, and he would take my face in his hands to look at him when he really wanted may attention, to when as a teenager, he would scan the stands before a soccer game to see us there- he required our presence in his life.This is how we are to seek after God.

As His beloved children we can look toward God, seeking His favor, lovingkindness/hesed.(Day 18 & Day 24 discuss this rich Hebrew word).

Imagine God smiling at you, enjoying you, desiring to walk, commune, be with you throughout the day with you, as your closest Friend, the One who desires you most!This is a glimpse of what heaven will be like!

The Amplified version says it this way:

“Seek, inquire of and for the Lord, and crave Him

and His Strength (His might and inflexibility to temptation);

seek and require His face and His Presence (continually) evermore.”

The word “and” is italicized in the Amplified translation, implying to me that we are to seek AND crave AND require: the Lord, His strength and His Presence.

Imagine if this was your focus for today.How would you do it? What would it look like?

Can you make a conscious, intentional effort throughout the day to be aware of God?

Can you call on His strength to get you through temptation, give you’re the ability to deal with whatever circumstances today brings?

How will your day be different?

Write this verse on a sticky not and put it where you can see it throughout the day.

I do this often to help bring my mind and heart back to the morning devotional and helps me extend the lesson God is teaching me throughout the day.

Please post in the comments or email me how this verse impacts you and/ or how dwelling on it impacted your day.

Digging Deeper:

This verse touches on many of the previous Lenten devotions, and reviewing them may add even more meaning and power to this simple yet profound verse.